2 weeks ago
8
Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has opened up about his decision to leave the United Kingdom behind.
The player accumulated 278 Premier League appearances across spells with the Reds, Newcastle, Swansea, and Nottingham Forest. He also represented England on six occasions under Roy Hodgson, but he never featured in a major tournament for his country.
Shelvey now plies his trade for UAE second division side Arabian Falcons following his summer departure from Burnley. The 33-year-old has now addressed the unexpected move - stressing that financial considerations played no part in his choice. "I've since seen a few things like, 'He's gone there for money.' I'm thinking, 'What money?' There's no money in the UAE Second Division League," he told BBC Sport.
"The ballpark of the standard wage here is £2,000-a-month for a footballer. In terms of what I've earned throughout my career, that's nothing.
"My brother earns more working in a hotel in London, so it was never about coming here for the money."
Elaborating on his recent transfer, Shelvey admits that rediscovering his love for the game and leaving England were also key factors.
He said: "I've had my time. I'm happy and content.
"I'm just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It's about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.
"If I'm honest, I don't want my children growing up in England any more. We're very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I'm from, originally, you can't have nice things in my opinion.
"I'd never wear a watch in London any more. You can't have your phone out in London, in my view."
He continued: "I'm not massive on reading politics. I just see some of the things that go on.
"I see people getting arrested for tweeting and, then, all of the flags and 'taking back the country.'
"I'm not going to sit here and comment on things like that because I'm not clever enough to, and I'll get myself into trouble if I carry on, but I just feel that the UK isn't what it was 10 to 15 years ago."
The 33-year-old enjoyed a three-year stint at Liverpool from 2010 to 2013, featuring in 69 matches and netting seven goals.
He currently represents Arabian Falcons, marking the 10th destination in his extensive career to date.
English (US) ·